Lace attachment for flat knitting machines



June 23, 1942. 4 LA Ac 2,287,480

LACE ATTACHMENT FO R FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I71! z L ambac/z/ ATTORNEY June 23, 1942. F. LAMBACH 2,287,480

LACE ATTACHHENT FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Fi led Aug. 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZTORNEY I.

June 23, 1942. F. LAMBACH 2,287,480

LACE ATTACHMENT- FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Hafiz Z ambac/z.

ATTO RNEY June 23, 1942. v F. LAMBACH v 2,287,480

LACE ATTACHMENT FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 30, 1959 7-Sheets-Sheet 4 lNVENTOR 1W1 imam/L June 23, 1942. F. LAMBACH 2,237,430

LACE ATTACHMENT FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES I Filed Aug. 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR i /Z 732 ldmat ATTORNEY June 23, 1942. F. LAMBACH LACE ATTACHMENT FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 30, 1939 June 23, 1942. F. LAMBAQH LACE ATTACHMENT FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 50-, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 .2 mm z w.

ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE LACE ATTACHMENT FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Fritz Lambach, Fairview, N. J. Application August 30, 1939, Serial No. 292,549

26 Claims.

The present invention relates to a lace attachment for flat knitting machines, and primarily aims to provide an attachment of simplified construction capable of being readily installed on commonly used fiat knitting machines and operated at relatively high speed for producing lace effects in flat knitted fabrics.

I-Ieretofore, it has been customary to equip knitting machines with plain picot mechanisms and to associate therewith so-called lace attachments intended to control the picot mechanisms for forming lace designs in the fabrics knitted on said machines.

siderable loss of time and production due to the fact that the setting of the machineprovided with known lace attachments requires a number of manual operations, such as the manual setting of the attachment into operative position, the manual setting of the narrowing motion mechanism and of the carrier rod control mechanism to prevent the operation thereof duringthe function of the lace attachment.

It is, therefore, one of the most important objects of the invention to provide a, flat knitting machine having loop transfer devices, such as a picot bar or lace comb mechanisms, with meansoperable to set the machine quickly and. automatically for the formation of lace designs in the fabric by said picot bar or lace comb mechanisms, thereby eliminating those slow manual operations which have heretofore been necessary.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I have, in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, "set out a possible embodiment ofv the invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a knitting machine having my improved lace attachment installed thereon.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of a portion of Such known arrangements, V however, present complications and result in con-J Figure 7 is a section taken on line 'l! of Figure 4, but on a reduced scale.

Figure 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Figure 4, but on a reduced scale.

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-4] of Figure 5, but with parts removed.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 3, shOW- ing the association of the picot rod and lace rod with the lace attachment.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a portion of the same.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, it is pointed out that I have shown only those parts of a full-fashioned knitting machine which are essential to a clear understanding of the present invention, the basic construction and operation of the machine itself being that of the, usual standard machine well known in the art.-

Machine frame In the drawings, the usual machine frame is represented at I, and includes the upright frames 2, front beam 3, the table 4, and the center bed 5 1 8, and the rockable back narrowing shaft 9.

Knitting mechanism Mounted in the usual manner about the center bed 5 are the knitting sections, one of which is represented at [0 in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. Each knitting section includes the needle bar H with which the usual yarn carriers (not shown) "carried by the carrierbars I 2, the sinkers l3 operated through jacks l4, and the dividers l5 actuated'through the catch bar It cooperate to form theloops of the fabric being knitted on the machine.

Carrier bar control mechanism Arranged upon the machine is the yarn carrier bar motion control mechanism, designated in its entirety for convenience herein by the reference character ll, and functioning inthe usual manner to vary thestroke of the carrier bars [2 in their yarn laying movements. The yarn carrier bar motion control mechanism includes a pair of carrier nuts I8 in engagement with a rotatable reversely threaded spindle l9 whereby said carrier nuts may be moved towards and away from each other, depending upon the rotating direction of said spindle.

Whereas the carrier nut spindle |9 may be rotated through actuation of the usual manually operated means 20, it is rotated automatically during the function of the knitting machine by means of a gear 2| keyed, or otherwise secured, to said spindle l9, and enmeshed with a gear 22 secured to a shaft 23 rotatably mounted in bearings 24 suitably fixed to the center bed 5. The shaft 23 is rotated by means of a ratcheting mechanism 25 comprising a ratchet wheel 26 fixed on said shaft and acted upon by a pawl 21 carried by a connection rod 28 articulated as at 29 to an oscillating lever 36 pivotally supported on one of the upright frames 2, as shown at 3|, and provided with a roller 32 adapted for engagement in the usual manner with push cams 33 and 34, a spring 35 acting on the lever 36 to urge the same into its normal position.

Narrowing mechanism Also arranged upon the machine is the narrowing mechanism operating in the usual manher to transfer loops on the needle bar II for fashioning the fabric. The narrowing mechanism includes sets of narrowing combs 31 adapted for cooperation with the needle bar H to effect the transfer of loops, and carried by sets of narrowing rods 38 slidably suspended over the knitting sections by means of brackets 39 relatively spaced along a shaft 48 extending longitudinally of the machine and mounted in vertically disposed arms 4| clamped onto the back narrowing shaft 9 for oscillating movement therewith.

Narrowing rod motion mechanism The narrowing mechanism is controlled by means of a narrowing motion mechanism designated in its entirety by the reference character 36, and including a narrowing spindle 43 rotatably carried in longitudinally superposed paralleling relation to the shaft 40 by means of bearing brackets 42 positioned at suitable intervals along the length of said shaft. The narrowing spindle 43 is formed with the usual reversely threaded portions 44 in engagement with the usual narrowing nuts, one of which is shown at 45, it be ing understood that the required number of reversely threaded portions and narrowing nuts are provided to impart the necessary narrowing movement to each of the narrowing rods 38 which, for that purpose, have stops, such as represented at 46, to engage said nuts in the usual manner.

The spindle 43, while capable of manual rotation by actuation of the hand crank 41 and gearing 43, is automatically rotated during operation of the knitting machine by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism 50 comprising a ratchet wheel 5| acted upon by a pawl 52 receiving its motion from a rod 53 connected, as shown at 54, to one end of a rocking lever 55, having its other end affixed onto the back catch bar shaft 8 which carries an arm 56 provided with a roller 51 disposed for riding engagement with either a narrowing cam 58 or idling cam 59 on the main cam shaft 6, depending upon the shifted position of said main cam shaft.

Proper setting of the narrowing nuts, and accidental rotation of the narrowing spindle, are prevented by means of the usual locking mechanism 60 consisting of an index wheel 6| and cooperating spring pressed plunger 62.

Picot rod and lace rod mechanism The knitting machine, in accordance with the present invention as herein'shown, is equipped with a picot rod 64 mounted for longitudinal sliding and transversal rotating movements in bearings 65 on the brackets 39. Disposed for registration with each knitting section, and fixed to the picot rod 64 by means of the arms 66, is a picot bar 61 which may be moved in and out of cooperative position with respect to the needle bar II by the transversal rotating movement of the picot rod, and which may be moved longitudinally of said needle bar for the transfer of loops through the longitudinal sliding movement of said picot rod for the formation of picot lace designs in the fabric, in the manner hereinafter specified.

The knitting machine, also in accordance with the present invention as herein shown, may be provided with a lace rod 68 mounted for longitud'lnal sliding and transversal rotating movements in bearings 69 in the brackets 39 and fixedly carrying lace combs, such as the comb indicated at 19 in Figure 10, for the transfer of loops through the longitudinal sliding movement of said lace rod to form clock designs in the fabric, in the manner to be set forth hereinafter.

The picot rod 64 and lace rod 68 may be rotated to operative or inoperative positions by means of handles suitably attached thereto, for instance, as that shown at 1| in the drawings.

Timely dipping motion of the entire narrowing mechanism, including the picot and lace mechanisms just described, is had through link arrangement 12 provided with roller 13 adapted for riding engagement with either a clipping cam 14 or an idling cam 15 on the main cam shaft 6, depending upon the shifted position of said cam shaft. The picot rod 64 and lace rod 68 are given their respective longitudinal movements for the loop transference to form the desired lace designs in the fabric being knitted by the function of a so-called lace attachment, designated in its entirety by the reference character 89, which will now be described.

Lace attachment Fixedly attached to the table 4 of the machine frame I is a frame casting 8| consisting of a base 82 and sides 83 and 84. Depending from the front portion of the base 82 and suitably secured thereto, for instance, as indicated at 85, is a bearing bracket 86 which preferably is steadied by means of a supporting arm 81 having one end bolted, or otherwise fastened, to said bracket 96, and its other end affixed to the front beam 3 of the machine frame I, as indicated at 88 and 89 respectively.

Journalled in the bearing bracket 86 is a rotatable stub shaft 98 fixedly carrying a lever 9| provided with a roller 92 disposed to contact with and ride either upon an active lace cam 93 or a neutral lace cam 94. Proper riding engagement of the roller 92 with either cam 93 or cam 94 is assured by means of springs 95, each having one end attached to the lever 9|, as shown at 96, and the other end attached to the bracket supporting arm 81, as shown at 91.

Also fixedly carried by the stub shaft 96 is a second lever 98 terminating with an arcuate rack portion 99 in engagement with a'gear I keyed, or otherwise locked, onto a shaft |8| supported at one end portion by a bearing I82 formed in one side 83 of the frame casting 8|, and at the other end portion by a bearing I63 formed with a support member I94 extending from the base 82 of the casting 8|.

Rigidly mounted upon the shaft IOI are three groups of cams, one group consisting of a push cam I05, the second group consisting of a set of shift cams respectively designated at I06a, I01a, I08a, I002), I011), and I081), and the third group consisting of an unloading cam I09.

Associated with the push cam I05 is a roller I I carried by one arm II I of a bell crank lever I I2 fixed onto a shaft I I3 supported by the sides 03 and 84 of the frame casting 8| in parallel spaced relation to the cam carrying shaft NH. The roller IIO is constantly urged into riding engagement with the push cam I05 by means of a spring II4 having one end connected to said arm I I I of the bell crank lever I I2, as shown at H5, and the other end connected to the base 82 of the casting 8I, as shown at H6. The other arm of the bell crank lever II2 forms a handle I i Ia for the purpose to be set forth hereinafter.

Upon the roller carrying end of the bell crank lever I I2 is also mounted a pawl II1 disposed for action on, and adapted to be normally urged, by means of a spring II8 between said pawl H1 and bell crank lever I I2, in engagement with a ratchet wheel IE9 rotatably engaging the shaft H3 and having one of its faces provided with two concentrically disposed rows I20 and I2I of buttons, the buttons in each row being of relatively different lengths for the purpose to be hereinafter specified.

Disposed to abut the buttons in one row I20 is a longitudinal shiftable shaft I22 provided, for that purpose, with a tapering end I23. The shaft I22 is supported in a bearing I24 formed with the support I04 and a bearing I25 formed with the side 33 0f the frame casting 8| so that said shaft I22 may be shifted longitudinally with respect to the shaft I I3. Arranged for longitudinal sliding movements with the shaft I22, but mounted for transversal rocking movements relative thereto, is a forked lever I26 having a pair of spaced arms I21 and I28 relatively projecting in opposite directions so that rollers I29 and I30 carried by the free end of each respective arm I21 and I28 may extend on the opposed sides of said sec ond cam group on the shaft IOI for cooperating with shifting cams IIlSa, I01a, I08a, I061), I91b, and I081) of said second group for imparting to the forked lever I26 its rocking motion.

It is to be noted that the roller I29 is disposed to cooperate with cams I06a, I01a, and I08a, whereas the roller I30 is disposed to cooperate with cams I061), I011), and I081), that is, depend ing upon the shifted position of the shaft I22, the roller I29 will engage cam I06a, whereas roller I30 will engage cam I062); or the roller I29 will engage cam I01a, whereas roller I30 will engage cam I01b; or roller I29 will engage cam I08a, whereas roller I 30 will engage cam I08b. It is also to be noted that the various cams are so shaped that one cam always follows the other, so that the rocking movement of the forked lever I26 is constant and positive, without the use of springs. Because of this arrangement, it will be appreciated that said forked lever may easily be shifted with the shaft, since no spring pressure between the rollers I29 and I30 and the associated cams has to be overcome.

The forked lever I26 engages, preferably by means of slots I3I, a relatively short rod I32 received in an elongated slot I33 cut longitudinally through one end portion .I34 of a wedge I35 carrying a knurled nut I36 in screw-threaded engagement with said end I34, whereby said rod I32 may be adjusted in the elongated slot with respect to the wedge I35, thereby constituting an adjustable connection between said lever I26 and Wedge I35. Because of the connection between the forked lever I26 and the wedge I35, it will be understood that the rocking movements of the former will impart sliding movements to the latter, and that therefore the action of the shifting cams will control the position of thewedge I35 at various levels.

The intermediate portion I31 of the wedge I35 passes for transversal sliding movement through a longitudinally hollowed portion I38 in one end of an elongated member I39 supported for reciprocation by means of a bearing I40 on the support I04, and a bearing I4I on one side 83 of the frame casting 8I. The other end portion of said member I39 projects outwardly of the casting side 83, as shown at I39a, and rigidly carries a face plate I4 Ia with which the picot rod 64 and lace rod 68 are adapted to be engaged, as will more clearly be set forth hereinafter. Said intermediate portion I31 of the wedge I35 is formed with a stepped surface I42 disposed to contact one end I43 of a pin I44 slidably received within said hollowed portion I38 of the member I39, the free end I45 of said pin I44 projecting outwardly of the member I39 and suitably shaped for abutting engagement with the row I2I of buttons on the ratchet wheel I I9.

It will be understood that the stepped surface I42 of the wedge I35 acts to cause the pin I44 to move more or less in or out of the member I39, thereby, in actuality, acting to lengthen or shorten the length of said member I39 which, in turn, causes the shifting of the picot rod 64 or lace rod 68 in relation to the needle bar I I by reason of the engagement of said picot rod or lace rod with the face plate I4Ia carried by said member.

7 In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the stepped surface of the wedge I35 is composed of four steps, one step A acting to shift and hold the picot bar 61 or lace combs 10in neutral or starting position with respect to the needle bar II; the second step B acting to shift and hold the picot bar or lace combs in a position two needles to the left from the original or starting position, the third step C acting to shift and hold the picot bar or lace combs in a position one needle to the right from the starting position; and the fourth step D acting to shift and hold the picot bar or lace combs in a position two needles to the right from the starting position. Of course, it is to be understood that the number of steps and their relation may be varied at will, to cause the shifting and holding of the picot bar or lace combs to other and different positions in either right or left directions with respect to the needle bar to produce various desired lace designs in the fabric being knitted.

Positive frictional engagement between the end I43 of the pin I44 and the stepped surface I42 of the wedge I35 is assured by means of a spring I46 suitably connected to said pin I44 and member I39, as represented at I41 and I48, Whereas positive abutting engagement of the end I45 of the pin I44 with the row I2I of buttons, is assured by means 'of a spring I49 connected to a suitable portion of the supporting bearing I40 and member I39, as represented at I50 and I5! (Figure 5) and positive abutting engagement of the end I23 of the shaft I22 is assured by means of a spring I52 connected to said shaft I22 and base 82, as indicated at I53 and I54 (Figure 9).

The pin I44 is guided in its sliding movement by means of a guide plate I55 affixed to the support bearing I40, as shown at I56; the wedge I35 is guided in its sliding movement by means of a guide cap I51 afiixed to member I39, as shown at I58, to enclose the free end of said wedge; and the rod I22 is guided in its movement with said wedge by means of a guide plate I59 afliXed to the support I04, as shown at I60.

In order to prevent the accidental rotation of the shaft I I3 with the ratchet wheel I I9 thereon, an index wheel IBI is secured to said shaft adjacent the outer face of said ratchet wheel, and is adapted to be engaged by a spring pressed retractable plunger I62 fixed onto the side 84 of the frame casting 8|. Also, in order to prevent the ratchet wheel II9 from over-running because of its own momentum, there may be provided a suitable frictional brake I63 arranged to bear upon the face of said ratchet wheel.

Associated for riding engagement with the unloading cam I09 on the shaft IOI is a roller I64 carried by a rocking lever I65 movably mounted upon the shaft I I3 and normally pulled in a direction to cause said roller I 64 to engage the cam E09 by means of a spring I66 suitably attached to the lever I 65 and the base 82 of the frame casting 8!, as indicated at I61 and I68 (Figure 8).

The lever I65 is formed with a pair of camming elements I10 and I1I, one camming element I10 being adapted to engage a roller I12 carried by the sliding member I39, and the other camming element I being adapted to engage a roller I13 carried by the sliding shaft I22. Because of this arrangement, it will be understood that, upon movement of the cam I09 in the direction indicated by the arrow X (Figure 8), the lever I65 will be rocked, accordingly moving the cam elements I10 and HI in the direction indicated by arrows Y and Z respectively, thereby displacing member I 39 and shaft I22 so that their respective ends I45 and I23 will disengage the rows I2I and I20 of buttons on the ratchet wheel H9.

As represented in the drawings, the gearings, shafts, and cams confined within the frame casting 8| may be enclosed by means of a covering shield I14 for protection and safety purposes.

As is customary in the art, whenever the knitting machine is to knit plain fabric, the lace attachment 60 hereinbefore described is to be rendered inoperative so that the carrier bar control mechanism I1 and the narrowing rod motion mechanism 36 may operate freely to provide their intended functions, and whenever said lace attachment is to function, said carrier bar control mechanism and narrowing rod motion mechanism are to be rendered inoperative so as not to interfere with the proper actuaticn of the picot or lace mechanism.

In accordance with the present invention, the change in the knitting machine is accomplished automatically by the mere lowering of the picot bar 61. For that purpose, the picot rod 64 is provided with a cam I15 disposed for engagement with a finger I16 formed with a plate I11 positioned adjacent the ratchet 50 of the narrowing rod motion mechanism 36 and mounted for rectilinear sliding movement on supporting shafts 50 and 43. A portion of the plate I11 is preferably rounded out, as shown at I18, to lay concentrically with respect to the ratchet wheel 51. In this manner, as more clearly shown in Figure 3, when the picot rod 64 is rotated to place the picot bar 61 in active position, the high point of the cam I15 will raise the plate I11 and cause the rounded portion I16 thereof to lift the pawl 52 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 5I, thereby rendering the narrowing mechanism 36 inactive.

However, when, as more clearly shown in Figure 10, the picot rod 64 is rotated to place the picot bar 61 in inactive position, the high point of the cam I15 leaves the finger I16, allowing the plate I11 to fall by gravity accordingly freeing the pawl 52 for its engagement with the ratchet wheel 5|, thereby rendering the narrowing rod motion mechanism active.

The picot rod 64 is also provided with a second cam I80 disposed for engagement with one end I9I of a lever I82 supported for oscillating movement in a bracket I84 attached to the table 4, the lever I82 being constantly urged in engagement with the cam I86 by the action of a spring I85 attached to said lever I82 and bracket I84, as indicated at I86 and I81. The other end I38 of the lever I 82 is connected by means of a link I89 to an arm I96 formed in a circular plate I9I positioned adjacent the ratchet 25 of the carrier bar control mechanism I1 and mounted for rocking motion on the shaft 23.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the peripherial edge of the plate I9I which extends slightly beyond the teeth of the ratchet wheel 26 is adapted to en gage and remove the pawl 21 from the latter, thereby rendering the carrier bar control mechanism I1 inactive. Said peripherial edge of the plate I9I, however, is formed with a cut-out por tion I92 intended to allow the pawl 21 to engage the ratchet wheel 26 when the picot rod 64 is rotated to place the picot bar 61 in inactive position, which brings the high point of the cam I89 in engagement with the lever I82 to cause the plate I9I to move in the direction of the arrow W, accordingly bringing said cut-out portion I92 in registration with the pawl 21.

The picot rod 64, however, is provided with a third cam I94 disposed for engagement with an arm I95 rigid with a sleeve I 96 rotatably mounted on a stud I91 projecting outwardly from the side 83 of the frame casting 8| The sleeve I96 is formed with a second arm I98 connected by means of a link I99 to a lever 200 positioned on the outside of said casting side 03 and pivoted at its intermediate portion on the extremity of the shaft It". The other end of the lever 296 carries a stop 29I passing through an arcuate slot 262 cut into said casting side 83 to project at a point in alignment with the rack 99 with which the gear I90, also carried by the shaft ml, is in engagement.

The stop extension carrying extremity of the lever 290 is engaged by a spring 203 attached to the casting side 83, as indicated at 264, and acting on said lever 230 to normally urge the stop extension 29I thereof towards the rack 99. By reason of this arrangement, and as more clearly shown in Figure 3, it will be understood that when the picot rod 64 is rotated to place the picot bar 61 in operative position, the high point of the cam I94 bears upon the arm I95 to act through arm I98 and link I99 on the lever 26.0 for holding the stop extension 26I away from the rack 99 against the normal action of the spring 293, thus permitting the free movement of the arm 98 through the lever 9| and the cam 93 on the main cam shaft 6.

However, when the picot rod 64 is rotated to place the picot bar 61 in inoperativ position, the high point of the cam I94 leaves the arm I 95 which then moves in the direction indicated by the arrow M, accordingly allowing the spring 203 to pull the stop extension 29I towards the rack 99 which, by that time, has moved to a position opposite to that shown in Figur 3. The stop extension 20I may then engage the rack 99 and prevent further movement thereof, thus rendering the entire lace attachment 80 inoperative.

As shown in the drawings, the cam I94 on the picot rod '64 is provided with an adjustable stop 205 adapted to contact the face plate I Met carried by the reciprocating member I39 when the picot rod 64 is rotated to place the picot bar 61 in active position so that the reciprocations of said member I39 are transmitted to the picot bar 01.

In Figures 10 and 11, there has been shown a possible way of operating the lace rod 68 by means of the lace attachment 89. c Arranged upon the lace rod 93 is a cam 206 disposed for engagement with an eXtension piece 201 rigid with the lever I98 of the lace attachment control assembly, hereinbefore described. Thus when said lace rod 68 is rotated to bring the lace combs 10 into active position, the high point of the cam 200 acts through the extension piece 291 on the lever I98 in the same manner as the cam I94 of the picot rod 64 to free the lace attachment for operation.

The cam 205 likewise is provided with an adjustable stop 208 adapted to contact an eXtension 209 rigid with a face plate I4Ia so that said lace rod, together with its lace combs, may follow the reciprocating movements of the member I39. The lace rod 08 may also be provided with similar cams disposed for cooperation with suitable eXtensions (not shown) rigid with lever I82 and finger I15, so that the movement of said lace rod will govern automatically the carrier control mechanism and the narrowing motion mechanism in the same manner as hereinbefore I described.

However, since the lace combs usually are so located, and of such a size, that they do not interfere with the operation of the narrowing combs 13, narrowing may be performed in conjunction with the use of the lace combs. In this event, additional cams on the lace rod 08 and extensions on the lever I82 and finger I15 may be dispensed with so that movement of the lace rod to place the lace combs in active position will not disrupt the action of the carrier rod control mechanism and narrowing mechanism.

Operation During the normal operation of the knitting machine, that is, during the knitting of plain fabric, the main cam shaft is shifted to its knitting position so that the roller 92 rides on the idling cam 94, which causes the rack carrying lever 98 to assume its position opposite to that shown in the drawings. Since, during plain knitting, the picot bar 91 and the lace combs 10 are raised, the cam I94 on the picot rod 64 and the cam 200 on the lace rod 58 are so positioned that the high point of each of said cams is moved away from the lever I95 and its extension 201, thus permitting the lever 200 to move and bring the stop extension 20 I thereof in engagement with the rack 99, accordingly locking said rack and its lever 98 against movement.

In this manner, when, in the process of plain knitting, the main cam shaft 6 is shifted to its narrowing position for the purpose of fashioning the fabric, the lace attachment 80 remains inactive, although the active cam 93 is brought into alignment with the roller 95. It will be understood that the shifting of the main cam shaft 9 to its narrowing position also brings the active cams 33, 58, and 15 into alignment with the rollers 32, 51, and 13 respectively, imparting movement to the carrier rod control mechanism, the narrowing rod motion mechanism, and the dipping mechanism. In this connection, it will be noted that the carrier rod control mechanism I1 and the narrowing rod mechanism 35 are free to operate because the picot rod 04 with the cams I and I15 are turned so that the high point of each of said cams is away from the lever I82 and finger I19. 7

It will be understood, particularly upon reference to Figure 8, that while the lever 98 is moved for engagement by the locking extension 20I, the unloading cam I09 is moved in the direction of arrow X, causing the cam elements I10 and IN to displace and hold the member I 39 and shaft I22 so that their respective ends I45 and I23 are maintained away from the rows I2I and I20 of buttons on the ratchet wheel II9. Thus it is possible to rotate said ratchet wheel by means of the handle IIIa for setting the attachment into proper desired starting position.

When it is desired to utilize the picot bar 6'! for the formation of picot lace designs in the fabric, the picot rod 64 is rotated by means of the handle connected to bring said picot bar in position for cooperation with the needle bar II. As already stated, the rotation of the picot bar automatically locks the lace attachment 80 and interrupts the function of the carrier rod control mechanism I 1 and of the narrowing motion mechanism 36. With the pivot bar 61 in operative position, the knitting machine functions in the usual manner to knit successive courses and to cause the picot bar to pick the loops 01f the needle bar II for the purpose of transferring said loops when a picot course is to be formed.

For the formation of such a picot course, the main cam shaft 6 is shifted to its narrowing position through the normal operation of the machine following the knitting of a course. The shifting of the main cam shaft brings the active cam 93 in position to act on roller 92 so that, during the subsequent rotation of said main cam shaft, the lever 9I moves, causing the rack 99 to rotate the shaft IOI through the gear I00. The rotation of the shaft IOI, it will be understood, returns the cam I09 to the position shown in Figure 8 and thus allows the lever I05 to rock, which moves the cam elements I10 and I H to free the member I39 and shaft I22 so that, as more clearly shown in Figure 9, their respective ends I45 and I23 abut the associated rows I2I and I20 of buttons on the ratchet wheel II9. In this manner, the picot rod 54, because of its engagement with the face plate I4I carried by said member I39, is set in that position which determines the location of the picot bar 01. in relation to the needle bar I I for the picking of the loops therefrom. Thereupon, the dipping cam 14 acts on the roller 13 and causes the picot bar to pick the loops off the needle bar. At that time, the cam 93 again acts on' the roller 92 and thus rocks the rack carrying lever 98 to oscillate the shaft IOI, ac-

cordingly moving the cam I05 to actuate the pawl I I1 and therefore advance the ratchet wheel II9 one step, thereby setting the picot rod 64 in that position which determines the location of the picot bar 61 in relation to the needle bar II for the shifting of the loops.

After the shifting has taken place, the dipping cam 74 acts on the roller l3 and causes the picot bar to re-deposit theshifted loops onto the needle bar. Following the completion of the loop transfer, the cam 93 moves the roller 92 in line with the edge of the idling cam $34, whereupon the main cam shaft 6 is shifted to its knitting position so that the machine may continue to knit while the lace attachment remains inoperative until the main cam shaft is again shifted to its narrowing position for the formation of another picot course in the same manner above set forth.

It will be understood that the operations of the machine and lace attachment are the same when it is desired to utilize the lace combs instead of the picot bar, and that whether the lace combs or the picot bar are used, the knitting machine and lace attachment are set automatically for the knitting of lace fabric by the mere placing of said combs or bar into operative position.

It is pointed out that constant engagement of the picot rod 64 and lace rod 68 with the face plate Ml when in operative relation thereto, may be assured by providing usual draw springs (not shown) connected to suitable points on said rods and machine frame.

It is, of course, to be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described is capable of several modifications and, therefore, any modifications coming within the scope of the subjoined claims are to be considered within the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a fiat knitting machine having a main cam shaft and a loop transfer device movable in and out of operating position: a lace attachment comprising a rotatable pattern wheel; a lace cam on said cam shaft; means arranged between the cam shaft and pattern wheel and adapted to be actuated by said cam for imparting intermittent rotation to said pattern wheel; adjustable means controlled by said pattern wheel and adapted to act on said loop transfer device to operate the same; adjusting means also controlled by said pattern wheel to adjust said adjustable means for varying its action on said transfer device; and means associated with the loop transfer device and operable with its movement out of operating position for locking said rotation imparting means against actuation by said cam.

2 In a fiat knitting machine having a main cam shaft and a loop transfer device movable in and out of operating position: a lace attachment comprising a rotatable pattern wheel including two sets of pattern elements; a lace cam on said cam shaft; means arranged between said cam and pattern wheel and adapted to be actuated by the cam for imparting intermittent rotation to the pattern wheel; adjustable means controlled by one set of pattern elements on said pattern wheel and adapted to act on the loop transfer device to operate the same; adjusting means controlled by the other set of pattern elements on the patternwheel to adjust said adjustable means for varying its action on the transfer device; and means associated with the loop transfer device and operable with its movement out of operating position for locking said rotation imparting means against actuation by said cam.

3. Ina fiat knitting machine having a carrier bar control mechanism, a narrowing rod motion mechanism, and a lace mechanism including loop transfer means movable to and from operating position; means under control of said loop transfer means and operable upon moving the latter to operating position for setting said la-cemechanism for actuation and simultaneously preventing actuation of said carrier bar control mechanism and narrowing rod motion mechanism.

4. In a fiat knitting machine having a carrier bar control mechanism, a narrowing rod motion mechanism, and a lace mechanism including a loop transfer means movable to and from operating position: a device normally permitting, but movable to prevent, actuation of said carrier bar control mechanism; a device normally permitting, but movable to prevent, actuation of said narrowing rod motion mechanism; a device normally preventing, but movable to permit, actuation of said lace mechanism; and means under control of said loop transfer means and operable upon movement of the latter to operative position for simultaneously moving all of said devices.

5. In a flat knitting machine having a carrier bar control mechanism and a picot lace mechanism including a picot rod and a picot bar thereon, said picot rod being movable to place the picot bar in and out of operating position: a device normally permitting, but movable to prevent, actuation of said carrier bar control mechanism; a device normally permitting, but movable to prevent, actuation of said narrowing rod motion mechanism; a device normally preventing, but movable to permit, actuation of said picot lace mechanism; and cams carried by said picot bar and disposed to act on all of said devices for simultaneously moving the same with movement of the picot rod to place the picot bar in operating position.

6. A flat knitting machine comprising a carrier bar control mechanism; a narrowing rod motion mechanism; a lace attachment including a loop transfer device movable to and from operating position; and means controlled by said transfer device and operable, upon moving the latter to "operating position, for automatically and simultaneously setting the lace attachment for actuation and preventing the action of the carrier bar control mechanism and the narrowing rod motion mechanism.

7. A flat knitting machine comprising a carrier bar control mechanism; a narrowing rod motion mechanism; ratchet devices for operating said mechanisms; a lace attachment including a loop transfer device movable to and from operating position; and means controlled by said transfer device and operable, upon moving the latter to operating position, for automatically and simultaneously setting the lace attachment for actuation and preventing theaction of the carrier bar control mechanism and the narrowing rod motion mechanism, said means consisting of cams carried by the loop transfer device and of elements controlled by said cams to govern the function of said ratchet devices.

8. A machine for knitting flat fabric comprising a knitting mechanism including a needle bar, and carrier bars operable to feed yarn to the needle bar for the knitting of courses of, loops forming the fabric: a carrierbar control mechanism including carrier nuts and means to actuate the same; a narrowing mechanism including narrowing rods and narrowing combs operable to transfer certain loops in certain of said courses for fashioning the fabric; a narrowing rod motion mechanism including narrowing nuts and means to actuate the same; a lace attachment including a loop transfer device movable to operating position in relation to said needle bar to transfer thereon all the loops in certain of said courses for forming lace designs in the fabric; and means controlled by said transfer device and operable, upon movement of the latter to operating position, for automatically setting the lace attachment for actuation and preventing the action of the carrier bar control mechanism and the narrowing rod motion mechanism.

9. A machine for knitting flat fabric comprising a knitting mechanism including a needle bar, and carrier bars operable to feed yarn to the needle bar for the knitting of courses of loops forming the fabric; a carrier bar control mechanism including carrier nuts and a ratcheting device to actuate the same; a narrowing mechanism including narrowing rods and narrowing combs operable to transfer certain loops in certain of said courses for fashioning the fabric; a narrowing rod motion mechanism including narrowing nuts and a ratcheting device to actuate the same; a lace attachment including a loop transfer device movable to operating position in relation to said needle bar to transfer thereon all the loops in certain of said courses for forming lace designs in the fabric; and means controlled by said transfer device and operable, upon movement of the latter to operating position, for automatically setting the lace attachment for actuation and including elements adapted to disrupt the function of said ratcheting devices for preventing the action of the carrier bar control mechanism and the narrowing rod motion mechanism simultaneously with the setting of the lace attachment for actuation.

10. In a flat knitting machine having a loop transfer device movable longitudinally of the machine, an attachment for imparting longitudinal movements to said device over different distances, comprising: a pattern control sectional member consisting of telescoping sections and engageable with said device to transmit longitudinal movements thereto; and pattern control means operable to relatively adjust the telescoping sections of said member for prepositioning said device.

11. In a flat knitting machine having a loop transfer device movable longitudinally of the machine, an attachment for imparting longitudinal movements to said device over different distances, comprising: pattern means; a slidable sectional member consisting of telescoping sections, one

section engageable with said pattern means and the other section engageable with said device whereby said member may transmit longitudinal movements to said device from said pattern means; and pattern control means operable to relatively adjust the telescoping sections of said member for prepositioning said device with respect to said pattern means.

12. In a flat knitting machine having a loop transfer device movable longitudinally of the machine, an attachment for imparting longitudinal movements to said device over different distances, comprising: pattern means; a slidable sectional member consisting of telescoping sections, one section engageable with said pattern means and the other section engageable with said device whereby said member may transmit longitudinal movements to said device from said pattern means; and means controlled by said pattern means and operable to relatively adjust the telescoping sections of said member for prepositioning said device with respect to. said pattern means.

13. In a flat knitting machine having a loop transfer device movable longitudinally of the machine, an attachment for imparting longitudinal movements to said device over different distances, comprising: pattern means including two sets of pattern elements; a slidable sectional member consisting of telescoping sections, one section engageable with one set of pattern elements of said pattern means, and the other section engageable with said device whereby said member may transmit longitudinal movements to said device from said pattern means; and means controlled by the other set of said pattern elements of said pattern means and operable to relatively adjust the telescoping sections of said member for prepositioning said device with respect to said pattern means.

14. In a flat knitting machine having a bank of needles and a loop transfer device provided with loop engaging instrumentalities operable to remove the loops 01f certain needles and thereafter to return said loops onto certain other needles: an attachment comprising a pattern member; adjustable means controlled by said pattern member and acting on said loop transfer device to displace its loop engaging instrumentalities from positions related to said certain needles to positions related to said certain other needles intermediately of the loop removing and returning operations of said instrumentalities; and means also controlled by said pattern memher to adjust said adjustable means for action on said device to locate the loop engaging instrumentalities thereof with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said device for the loop removing operations of said loop engaging instrumentalities.

15. In a flat knitting machine having a bank of needles and a loop transfer device provided with loop engaging instrumentalities operable to remove the loops off certain needles and thereafter to return said loops onto certain other needles: an attachment comprising a pattern member including two sets of pattern elements; adjustable means controlled by one set of pattern elements of said pattern member and acting on said loop transfer device to displace its loop engaging instrumentalities from positions related to said certain needles to positions related to said certain other needles intermediately of the loop removing and returning operations of said instrumentalities; and means controlled by the other set of pattern elements of said pattern member to adjust said adjustable means for action on said device to locate the loop engaging instrumentalities thereof with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said device for the loop removing operations of said loop engaging instrumentalities.

16. In a flat knitting machine having a bank of needles and a loop transfer device provided with loop engaging instrumentalities operable to remove the loops off certain needles and thereafter to return said loops onto certain other needles: an attachment comprising a rotatable pattern wheel including two sets of pattern elements; adjustable means controlled by one set of pattern elements of said pattern wheel and acting on said loop transfer device to displace its loop engaging instrumentalities from positions related to said certain needles to positions related to said certain other needles intermcdiately of the loop removing and returning operations of said instrumentalities; and means controlled by the other set of pattern elements of said pattern wheel to adjust said adjustable means for action on said device to locate the loop engaging instrumentalities thereof with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said device for the loop removing operations of said lo-op engaging instrumentalities.

17. In a flat knitting machine having a main cam shaft, a bank of needles, and a looptransfer device provided with loop engaging instrumentalities operable to remove the loops off certain needles and thereafter return said loops onto certain other needles: an attachment comprising a rotatable pattern member; a cam on the main cam shaft; means arranged between said cam and pattern member to impart intermittent rotation to the latter; adjustable means controlled by said pattern member and acting on said loop transfer device to displace its loop engaging instrumentalities from positions related to certain needles to positions related to said certain other needles intermediately of the loop removing and returning operations of said instrumentalities; and means also controlled by said pattern member to adjust said adjustable means for action on said device to locate the loop engaging instrumentalities thereof with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said device for the loop removing operations of said loop engaging instrumentalities.

18. In a fiat knitting machine having a main cam shaft, a bank of needles and a loop transfer device provided with loop engaging instrumentalities operable to remove the loops off certain needles and thereafter return said loops onto certain other needles: an attachment comprising a rotatable pattern wheel including two sets of pattern elements; a cam on the main cam shaft; means arranged between said cam and pattern wheel to impart intermittent rotation to the latter; adjustable means controlled by said pattern wheel and acting on said loop transfer device to displace its loop engaging instrumentalities from positions related to certain needles to positions related to certain other needles intermediately of the loop removing and returning operations of said instrumentalities; and means also controlled by said pattern wheel to adjust said adjustable means for action on said device to locate the loop engaging instrumentalities thereof with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said device for the loop removing operations of said loop engaging instrumentalities. I

19. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with the picot rod thereof operable to remove the loops off certain needles and thereafter to return said loops onto certain other of the needles: of an attachment comprising a pattern member; adjustable means controlled by said pattern member and acting on said picot rod to displace the same intermediately of the loop removing and returning operations thereof; and means also controlled by said pattern member to adjust said adjustable means for action on the picot rod to locate the same with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said picot rod in its loop removing operation.

20. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with the picot rod thereof operable to remove the loops off certain needles and thereafter to return said loops onto certain other needles; an attachment comprising a pattern member including two sets of pattern elements; adjustable means controlled by one set of pattern elements of said pattern member and acting on said picot rod to displace the same intermediately of the loop removing and returning oper- 75 ations thereof; and means controlled by the other set of pattern elements of said pattern member to adjust said adjustable means for action on the picot rod to locate the same with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said picot rod in its loop removing operations.

21. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with the picot rod thereof operable to remove the loops off certain needles and thereafter to return said loops onto certain other needles: an attachment comprising a rotatable pattern wheel including two sets of pattern elements; adjustable means controlled by one set of pattern elements of said pattern wheel and acting on said picot rod to displace the same intermediately of the loop removing and returning operations thereof; and means controlled by the other set of pattern elements of said pattern wheel to adjust said adjustable means for action on the picot rod to locate the same with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said picot rod in its loop removing operations.

22. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with the main cam shaft, and the picot rod thereof operable to remove the loops off certain needles and thereafter to return said loops onto certain other needles: an attachment comprising a rotatable pattern member; a cam on the main cam shaft; means arranged between said cam and pattern member to impart intermittent rotation to the latter; adjustable means controlled by said pattern member and acting on said picot rod to displace the same intermediately of the loop removing and returning operations thereof; and means also controlled by said pattern member to adjust said adjustable means for action on the picot rod to locate the same with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said picot rod in its loop removing operation.

23. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with the main cam shaft, and the picot rod thereof operable to remove the loops off certain needles and thereafter to return said loops onto certain other needles: an attachment comprising a rotatable pattern wheel including two sets of pattern elements; a cam on the main cam shaft; means arranged between said cam and pattern wheel to impart intermittent rotation to the latter; adjustable means controlled by said pattern wheel and acting on said picot rod to displace the same intermediately of the loop removing and returning operations thereof; and means also controlled by said pattern member to adjust said adjustable means for action on the picot rod to locate the same with respect to the needles prior to the actuation of said picot rod in its loop removing operation.

24. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles of a mechanism including loop engaging instrumentalities; a sectional member operable to impart sliding movement to said instrumentalities longitudinally of the bank of needles; a slidable wedge interposed between the sections of said member and acting thereon to cause the placement of said instrumentalities in a definite relation with respect to the needles; rotating cam means; and a pivotal member engaging said cam means and connected to said slidable wedge to translate the rotating movement of the former into the sliding movement of the latter.

25. In a fiat knitting machine having a loop transfer device movable longitudinally of the machine, an attachment for imparting longitudinal movements to said device over different distances comprising: a pattern control sectional member consisting of telescoping sections and engageable with said device to transmit longitudinal movement thereto; an element having a series of stepped surfaces associated with the telescoping sections to adjust the same relative]; to each other; and cam means operatively connected to said element for the operation thereof to bring the various stepped surfaces thereof into 10 operative relation with the telescoping sections.

FRITZ LAMBACH. 

